Making the World a Better Place to Work, One Leader at a Time

Accountability

Course Description

This course teaches the skills and explains the attitude that is necessary for creating an accountable organization. In today’s business climate, it is more important than ever for team members to hold themselves accountable; organizations depend on individuals and teams to implement actions that align with the values, competencies, and strategies of the organization. These values, competencies, and strategies must be demonstrated by every member on a daily basis.

While the term “accountability” is commonly heard, there is often a great deal of confusion about what this word means and to whom it applies. In this course, participants explore the true meaning of accountability and how it relates to them in their day-to-day duties. Next, participants examine the varying levels of power found in organizations. Through an involved discussion, they will begin to recognize the behaviors of those who believe they have no power, those who operate on the level of individual power, and those who demonstrate power on an organizational level. Through this discussion, participants begin to recognize the behaviors and level of power they personally demonstrate. Following this discussion, participants engage in a fun, yet pointed, role play in which they will both witness and demonstrate accountable/unaccountable behaviors. During a debriefing of the role play, the importance of making an accountable choice becomes clear.

Despite the best of professional intentions, there are obstacles to accountability. This is the next concept that participants will explore. Some obstacles are internal; some are external. Participants engage in small- and large-group discussions and activities to identify these obstacles and the techniques to overcome them. In particular, participants explore the different words and phrases that can be used to either create or remove personal accountability or the accountability of their team members. They will observe this language and accompanying behaviors in a video titled “Accountability That Works!”

The final step in the course is to take a personal accountability assessment that enables participants to further examine their language and behaviors. Once they complete the assessment, participants will be ready to practice their newly acquired accountability skills in customized role plays that are targeted toward helping them to improve the service they provide to both internal and external customers.

Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

Define accountability, responsibility, and empowerment.

Rate yourself and your team on the PowerMeter.

Discuss the Account-Able Choice.

Identify obstacles to being accountable.

Apply a three-step model to ask self-accountability questions.

Speak the language of empowerment and accountability.

Apply a five-step model to create accountability in others.

Duration

This course has a 4-hour agenda.

Class Size

This course is designed for up to 25 participants.

Course Outline

Below is the course outline with objectives and timing for a 4-hour agenda.

Objective and Topic

Timing

Elapsed Timing

Objective: Define accountability, responsibility, and empowerment.

Welcome and Icebreaker

25 min

25 min

Definition of Accountability

5 min

30 min

Objective: Rate yourself and your team on the PowerMeter.

The PowerMeter – Victim, Individual Power, Organizational Power

15 min

45 min

Objective: Discuss the Account-Able choice.

Define and Discuss the Account-Able Choice

15 min

1 hr

Activity – Demonstrating Accountable/Unaccountable Behaviors

30 min

1 hr, 30 min

Debrief Activity

5 min

1 hr, 35 min

Break

10 min

1 hr, 45 min

Objective: Identify obstacles to being accountable.

Discuss and Examine Obstacles to Accountability

15 min

2 hr

Objectives: Apply a three-step model to ask self-accountability questions. Speak the language of empowerment and accountability.

Self-Accountability and Activity

25 min

2 hr, 25 min

Activity – Creating Accountability Questions

20 min

2 hr, 45 min

Video: “Accountability That Works!”

35 min

3 hr, 20 min

Objective: Apply a five-step model to create accountability in others.

Accountability Assessment

Five-step Model – Accountability Actions

Practice: Customized role plays to utilize accountability skills with both internal and external customers